Vacuum pump



Oct. 9, 1956 c. c. KING 2,765,742

VACUUM PUMP Filed March 1, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. C. G. KXNGArromvay' Oct. 9, 1956 c. c. KING 2,765,742

VACUUM PUMP Filed March 1, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 64 g A 60-g HVVENTDR.

6.6. KING BY CW/IQXM ATTORNEY C. C. KING VACUUM PUMP Uci. 9, 1956 .3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 1, 1951 VACUUM PUlVIP Clifford C. King,Duncan, Okla.

Application March 1, 1951, Serial No. 213,397

2 Claims. (Cl. 1036) This invention relates to improvements in wellpumping equipment, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation,to an improved vacuum pump.

As it is well known in the oil industry, the recovery of oil from anearly depleted oil well may be increased, and the producing life of thewell extended, by inducing a vacuum in the oil well casing. This methodof recovery, commonly called secondary recovery, has not receivedwidespread usage because the cost of the required equipment usuallyexceeds the benefits of the increased recovery. Formerly, it has beenthe practice to provide a suitable vacuum pump near the well head and todrive the pump with suitable motors auxiliary to the usual surfaceequipment provided at the surface of the well. It will be readily seenthat a very substantial increase in production would be necessary tofinance the purchase of the vacuum pump and the auxiliary motiveequipment, as well as the maintenance thereof.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a novel vacuum pumpadapted to be operated by the walking beam of an oil well or the like.The pump is adapted to be placed under a walking beam and pivot duringoperation of the beam to compensate for the arcuate movement of the beamand reduce the wear of the pump structure to a minimum.

This invention also contemplates a novel pump structure wherein theplunger and valves are resilient cup shaped members. The pump plungerstructure eliminates the use of a traveling valve by automaticallyproviding a bypass of fluid thereby during the return stroke andprecluding the flow of fluid during the power stroke. The valves remainin a fixed position, as compared .to the conventional reciprocatingvalve, and alternately permit and preclude flow of fluid thereby,depending upon the pressure of the fluid on the opposite sides thereof.

An important object of this invention is to provide means forefficiently increasing the recovery of oil wells.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel pump for pullinga vacuum on the casing of an oil well.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel vacuum pumpadapted to be operated by the existing oil well surface equipment.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel vacuum pumpadapted for use under the walking beam of an oil well.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a simplyconstructed vacuum pump which may be economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from thefollowing detailed description, read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partially schematic, of a novelvacuum pump installed under the walking beam of an oil well.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the pump shown in Fig. l.

nited States Patent 2,765,742 Patented Oct. 9, 1956 Figure 3 is asectional view taken on lines 33 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified vacuum pump.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on lines 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Fig. 1, referencecharacter 2 designates a walking beam pivotally supported on a standardor Sampson post 4. One end 6 of the walking beam 2 is connected bylinkage 8 to a suitable power unit shown schematically at 10 in theusual manner. A hanger 12, commonly called a Mule Head is provided onthe opposite end 14 of the walking beam 2 to receive a cable or otherconnecting member 16. The cable 16 extends into a polish rod hanger 17in the usual manner. The hanger 17 is connected to a polish rod 18extending downwardly through a tubing hanger and stufiing box shownschematically at 20. The polish rod 18 is in turn connected to suitablesucker rods (not shown) extending downwardly through the well tubing 22to a sucker rod pump (not shown). The well tubing 22 is suspended in thewell casing 24 which extends downwardly to the producing sands (notshown). A cap 26 is provided over the upper end of the casing 24 to sealotf the casing in the usual manner. A conduit 28 is connected to the cap26 to provide communication between the well casing 24 and a novelvacuum pump 30, disposed directly underneath the Walking beam 2. Aremovable bracket 32 is secured on the Walking beam 2 above the pump 30and has a rod 34 depending therefrom. A suitable universal joint 36interconnects the rod 34 to the upper end of the pump plunger rod 38 tooperate the pump 30 during operation of the power unit 10 and walkingbeam 2 as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

The pump 30 (Fig. 2) comprises a pump cylinder 40 having upper and lowercylinder heads 42 and 44 respectively threadedly secured to the oppositeends thereof. -An apertured boss 46 is provided in the central portionof the upper head 42 to receive the plunger rod 38. Suitable packing 48is retained in the boss 46 around the rod 38 by a packing nut 50threadedly secured in the head 42. An outlet conduit 52 is securedtransversely in the head 42 and provides communication between the pumpcylinder 40 and any desired disposal (not shown). A suitable check valve(not shown) is preferably interposed in the conduit 52, to preclude aretrograde flow of fluid therethrough.

A novel plunger 54 is secured on the lower end of the plunger rod 38within the pump cylinder 40. The plunger 54 comprises a cup shapedresilient member 56 having outwardly tapered side walls 58. The walls 58are slightly thinned toward their upper ends 60 for purposes as will behereinafter set forth. A metallic, or other type of rigid material, cup62 is disposed over the lower end of the resilient cup 56 to providerigidity for the plunger 54. A guide plate 64 is rigidly secured to therod 38 above the plunger 54 to retain the plunger 54 centrally in thecylinder 40 during operation thereof. The guide plate 64 is cut away asclearly shown in Fig. 3 to provide a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced fingers 66 extending into contact with the walls of the cylinder40. The plate 64 will therefore provide the minimum restriction to flowin the cylinder 40.

A valve 68 (Fig. 2) similar in construction to the plunger 54, issecured in an upright position in the lower cylinder head 44 by asuitable bolt 69. The upper end 70 of the valve 68 contacts the innerperiphery of the pump cylinder 40 as will be hereinafter set forth. Anipple 71 is secured in a vertical position in the valve 68 by the bolt69 and provides a stop for the plunger 54 in the event the plunger 54moves too far downwardly in the cylinder 40 to prevent damage of thevalve 68.

A pair of diametrically opposed conduits 72 and 73 extend from the lowerhead 44' and communicate with the interior of the pumping cylinder 40.The conduits 72 and 73 extend transversely to the Walking beam 2 (seealso Fig. 1) and into suitable pillow block type bearings 74 provided onopposite sides of the pump to act as supports for the pump 30. The pump30 may therefore be pivoted ina vertical plane including the walkingbeam 2 as will be hereinafter set forth. A suitable plug 75 issecured'in the conduit 72 to'preclude flow of fluid therethrough, andthe conduit 73 communicates with the conduit 28; The conduit 73therefore acts as an inlet for the pump 30. A resilient coupling 76interconnects the conduits'73 and 28 to permit partial rotation of theconduit 73 without disrupting communication between the conduits. Itwill be understood that the conduits 73 and 28 may be interconnected byany suitable type of swivel connection.

Operation During operation of the power unit 10, the walking beam 2 ispivoted on the standard 4 through the medium of the linkage 8 in theusual manner to reciprocate the sucker rod 18 and operate a suitablesucker rod pump (not shown). It will be readily seen that the walkingbeam 2 will simultaneously reciprocate the pump plunger 54 through themedium of the clamp 32, rod 34, universal joint 36 and plunger rod 38.Since any given point on the walking beam 2 will be moved on the arc ofa circle during operation of the beam 2, the clamp 32 and the rod 34will not be moved in a truly vertical direction to operate the pump 30.It will be readily seen that the universal joint 36, as compared to arigid connection between the rods 34 and 38, reduces the horizontalmovement of the rod 38 to a minimum during reciprocation thereof.Furthermore, the pump 30 is pivotally supported by the conduits 72 and73 in the bearings '74, therefore the pump cylinder 40 will be pivotedduring operation of the rod 38 to retain the cylinder 40 in alignmentwith the rod 38. It is therefore apparent that wear of the rod 38, pumpcylinder 40 and plunger 54 is retained at a minimum to provide a longservice life for the pump 30.

During the upstroke of the plunger 54, air or gas in the cylinder 40above the plunger 54 will force the upper edge 60 of the plunger 54 intosealing contact with the inner periphery of the cylinder 40 and providea vacuum in the lower portion of the cylinder 40. Resulting vacuum pullsthe upper thinned portion 70 of the valve 68 inwardly away from thewalls of the cylinder 40 to provide an annular passageway (not shown)around the valve 68. Ga or air in the well casing 24 will therefore flowthrough conduits 23 and 73 and around the valve 68 into the cylinder 40below the plunger 54. Simultaneously, air or gas above the plunger 54will be forced out of the cylinder 40 through the outlet 52 and checkvalve (not shown) to any desired disposal (not shown).

On the downstroke of the plunger 54, the gas entrained in the cylinder40 below the plunger 54 will force the upper edge 70 of the valve 68outwardly into sealing contact with the walls of the cylinder 40 topreclude a retrograde How of gas around the valve 68. Simultaneously,the gas below the plunger 54, cooperating with the induced vacuum abovethe plunger 54, forces the upper edge 60 of the resilient cup 56inwardly to provide an annular passageway around the plunger 54. The gasbe low the plunger 54 is therefore forced into the upper end of thecylinder preparatory to being discharged on the subsequent upstroke.

The guide plate 64 assures the central disposition of the plunger 54inthe cylinder 40 during. operation. As previously set forth, the guideplate 64 provides a negligible restriction to new of fluid in thecylinder 40. It Will A. be readilyv appreciated that the clamp 32 may beselectively secured to the walking beam 2 to regulate the stroke of theplunger 54 in accordance with the length of the cylinder 40.

When a large amount of gas is present in the casing 24, the pump 30 maybe replaced with a double acting pump as shown in Fig. 5 to pull thedesired vacuum in the casing 24. The pump 80' comprises a cylinder 81having an upper apertured head 82 threadedly secured thereto. Aplurality of circumferentially spaced brackets 83 extend outwardly fromthe head 82 to receive tightening bolts 84. The bolts 84 extenddownwardly along the cylinder 81 and are connected at their lower endsto complementary brackets 85 extending from the lower cylinder head 86.It is readily seen that the lower head 86 is retained in contact withthe cylinder 81 by the rods 84 and may be sealed thereto by any suitablemeans (not shown).

A pair of diametrically opposed conduits 87 and 88 are secured to thehead 86 and communicate through groups of small apertures 89 with theinterior of the cylinder 81. The conduits 87 and 88 are adapted toextend into the bearings 74 in the same manner as the conduits 72 and 73to pivotally support the pump 80. A valve 90, imilar in construction tothe valve 68 in the pump 30 (Fig. 2), is secured in the conduit 87adjacent the head 86 by a bolt 91 through the medium of a suitablespider 92 and collar 93. The collar 93 may be placed in communicationwith the conduit 28 by a suitable swivel connection (not shown). Theopen end 94 of the valve is disposed adjacent the respective apertures89 for purposes as will be hereinafter set forth.

A similar valve 95 is secured in the conduit 88 adjacent the opposedgroup of apertures 89 by a rod 96 through the medium of a spider 97 andcollar 98. v The collar 98 communicates with any desired disposal (notshown). The open end 99' of the valve 95 is disposed remotely from thehead 86. Each of the rods 91 and 96 may be provided with a suitableguide plate (not shown) similar to the guide plate 64 inthe pump 30 ifdesired to assure the central disposition of the respective valve in therespective conduit.

Vertically disposed conduits 100 and 101 extend upwardly from theconduits 87 and 88 respectively and are connected at'their upper ends tohorizontal conduits 102 and 1-03respectively. The conduits 102 and 103are connected to opposite sides of the upper head 82 and commun'icatethrough apertures 104 in the head 82 with the interior of the cylinder81. A union 105 is preferably interposed in each of the verticalconduits 100 and 101 to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of thepump 80.

A valve 106, similar to valves 90 and 95, is secured in the conduit 102adjacent the head 82 by a rod 107 through the medium of a cap 108provided on the outer end of the conduit 102. The open end 109 of thevalve 106 is disposed adjacent the head 82. A similar valve 110' issecured in the conduit 103 adjacent the head 82 by a rod 111 through themedium of a cap 112 provided on the outer end of the conduit 103. Theopen end 113 of the valve 110 is disposed remotely from the head 82.Suitable guide plates (not shown) may also be provided on the rods 107and 111 if desired to position the respective valves;

A- plunger generally indicated at 114 is reciprocally disposed in thecylinder 81. The plunger 114 comprises a'pair of oppositely extendingresilient cups 115 and 116. The outer portion 117 of the upper cup 115is turned upwardly and thinned for purposes as will be hereinafter setforth. The outer portion 118 of the lower cup 116 is turned downwardlyand thinned. An apertured guide plate 119 is provided between the cups115 and 116 to retain the cups 115 and 116 centrally in the cylinder 81.The guide plate 119 is cut away as shown in Fig. 6 to provide aplurality of fingers 120 extending into con tact with the walls of thecylinder 81.

The plunger 114 (Fig. is secured to the lower end of a plunger rod 121extending upwardly through the upper head 82. The upper end of theplunger rod 121 is interconnected by the universal joint 36 to the rod34 for reciprocating the plunger 114. A vertical lubrication passageway122 (see also Fig. 6) is provided through a portion of the rod 121. Apair of transverse apertures (not shown) in the lower end of the rod 121provide communication between the vertical passageway 122 and a pair ofapertures 124 provided in the plunger guide plate 119 to lubricate thecups 115 and 116 as will be hereinafter set forth. 7

A transverse aperture 125 is also provided in the rod 121 at the upperend of the passageway 122 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. A flexibletube 126 is secured in communication with the aperture 125 by a suitablecoupling 127. The opposite end of the tube 126 is connected to alubricator 128, and the lubricator 128 is supported on the pump 80 inany suitable manner (not shown). A suitable stufling box 129 is providedon the upper head 82 around the rod 121 in the usual manner. Cylindricalshoulders 130 may be provided on the inner faces of the upper and lowerheads 82 and 86 if desired to receive the cups 115 and 116 at the upperand lower positions of the plunger 114. The shoulders or projections 130provide for the maximum removal of fluid from the cylinder 81 on eachstroke or" the plunger 114 to obtain the maximum in pumping efiiciency.

It will be apparent that the plunger 114 may be reciprocated by thewalking beam 2 and the pump 80 will pivot about the bearings 74 to alignthe plunger rod 121 with the cylinder 81. On the upstroke of the plunger114, a suction will be created in the lower portion of the cylinder 81to pull gas or air from the well casing 24 through the conduits 28 and87. The induced vacuum will also force the open end 94 of the valve 90inwardly and permit passage of gas through the adjacent apertures 89into the cylinder 81. It will be apparent that since the valve 95 on theopposite side of the cylinder head 86 is disposed in the oppositedirection with respect to the cylinder 81, the conduit 88 will be closedoff from the cylinder 81. Also during the upstroke of the plunger 114,gas in the upper portion of the cylinder 81 will force the open end 113of the valve 110 inwardly and flow around the valve 110 into the conduit103. From the conduit 103, the pressured gas will be discharged throughthe communicating conduits 101 and 88 to a suitable disposal (notshown). Simultaneously, the pressured gas in the upper portion of thecylinder 81 will force the open end 109 of the valve 106 outwardly toseal off the conduit 102 from the cylinder 81.

On the downstroke of the plunger 114, a vacuum will be created in theupper portion of the cylinder 81 to force the open end 109 of the valve106 inwardly and permit passage of gas from the well casing 24 throughthe conduits 28, 87, 100 and 102 into the upper end of the cylinder 81.The valve 110 will be simultaneously closed to seal off the cylinder 81from the conduit 103. Also during the downstroke of the plunger 114, gaspreviously drawn into the lower portion of the cylinder 81 will beplaced under pressure to force the open end 99 of the valve 95 inwardly.The pressured gas will then flow through the adjacent apertures 89 andconduit 88 to a desired disposal. The pressured gas will also force theopen end 94 of the valve 90 outwardly to seal oil the conduit 87 fromthe cylinder 81.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the pump 80 will pump gasfrom the well casing 24 during each stroke thereof and is particularlyadapted to pull a vacuum on wells having a large amount of gas therein.During the upstroke of the plunger 114, the outer edge 117 of the upperplunger cup 115 will obviously be forced into sealing contact with theinner walls of the cylinder 81, whereas the outer portion 118 of thelower plunger cup 116 will be forced inwardly by the induced vacuumbelow the plunger 114. Therefore, a vacuum is obtained between the cupsand 116 to draw lubricant into the cylinder 81 through the apertures124, passageway 122, aperture and tube 126 from the lubricator 128. Thelower cup 116 and inner surface of the cylinder 81 will thereby beefliciently and automatically lubricated to reduce the wear of theplunger 114 and facilitate the seal of the cup 116 to the cylinder 81during the subsequent downstroke. It will be readily seen that duringthe downstroke of the plunger 114, the upper plunger cup 115 will belubricated in a similar manner.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides anovel pump for pulling a vacuum on the casing of an oil well to increasethe recovery in the well. The pump is adapted to be operated by thewalking beam of the oil well, thereby precluding the use of an auxiliarysource of motive power. It is also apparent that means are provided toautomatically compensate for the arcuate movement of the walking beam.Furthermore, the present invention provides a novel pump structurewherein the usual traveling valve is eliminated and the valves areautomatically operated by fluid pressure.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts asheretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, itbeing understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of theinvention may be made within the scope of the following claims withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a pump for pulling a vacuum on the casing of a well having awalking beam actuating means, comprising a pump cylinder disposed underthe walking beam, means for maintaining the cylinder in a vertical planeduring pivotal movement of the walking beam, said means comprisingtransverse shafts extending from the cylinder and journalled in bearingmembers for providing a pivotal movement for the pump cylinder, an inletand outlet for the pump cylinder, a conduit interconnecting the inlet ofthe pump cylinder with the well casing, a plunger in the pump cylinderand connected with the walking beam to provide reciprocation of theplunger during operation of the beam, a valve disposed below the plungerto cooperate with the plunger and interconnecting conduit for providinga vacuum within the well casing upon reciprocation of the plunger byalternately providing and precluding flow of fluid through the pump.

2. In a pump for pulling a vacuum on the casing of a well having awalking beam, comprising a pump cylinder disposed under the beam,supports extending from opposite sides of the pump cylinder andtransversely to the walking beam, bearings for the supports to provide apivotal movement for the pump cylinder in a vertical plane including thewalking beam, an inlet and outlet for the pump cylinder, a conduitinterconnecting the inlet of the pump cylinder and the well casing, aplunger in the cylinder, means connecting the plunger and the walkingbeam to provide reciprocation of the plunger in the cylinder uponactuation of the beam, said means comprising a rod member, a bracketsecured to the walking beam, a universal joint providing connection ofthe rod to the walking beam in a manner to maintain a substantiallylongitudinal alignment between the cylinder and the rod during verticalreciprocation of the rod upon op eration of the beam, a valve securedadjacent one end of the cylinder and in spaced relation to the pumpplunger, said valve cooperating with the plunger and interconnectingconduit to alternately provide and preclude flow of fluid through thepump upon reciprocation of the plunger for creating a vacuum within thecasing.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Baker Dec. 28, 1948 Elliot May 2, 1865Erwin May 15, 1888 Elliott Sept. 29, 1896 Wintz Feb. 20, 1912 Haney Oct.8, 1912 8 Evans Jan. 3, 1922 Pigg May 23, 1922 Boosted May'29; 1923Mason Aug. 12, 1924 Holdsworth July 31', 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS AustriaMar. 11, 1930

